Overview

The Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station, located in the beautiful hill country southwest of Albany, N.Y., is a mecca for researchers, educators, and people seeking peace and serenity away from the pressures of modern life. The original 500 acres of the Preserve, established in 1931 have gone undisturbed since the late 1800s. An additional 1500 acres have been added within the watershed since 1967. Among the natural treasures found on the Preserve are hardwood stands more than 200 years old, Lake Myosotis, Lincoln Pond, and the dramatic Rensselaerville Falls. These different environments provide a haven for a rich array of flora and fauna. The Preserve, one of the oldest individual biological research stations in the United States, has supported research continuously since 1938.

Edmund Niles Huyck

In 1629 Kilian van Rensselaer, through a charter from the Dutch West Indies Company, established a vast tract of land on both sides of the Hudson River that now encompasses Albany and Rensselaer counties. In 1785 Stephen van Rensselaer, eighth patroon of the manor, opened up the Rensselaerville area to settlement in 160 square-acre lots. Evidence of these subdivisions are still present as stone walls that snake throughout the Huyck Preserve.

In 1870 Waterbury and E.N. Huyck's father founded the fourth continuous papermaking felt woolen mills in North America at the foot of Rensselaerville Falls, turning Rensselaerville into a bustling village. However, a flood in 1878 which severely damaged the mill combined with overgrazing caused Waterbury and Huyck to dissolve their partnership and Huyck to relocate the felt mill to Albany, taking half the town’s population with it. He retained the property for recreational and community use. The remains of the felt mill are visible near the foot of the Rensselaerville Falls.Picture, right: Edmund Niles Huyck

Founding

After E.N. Huyck died in 1930, his widow, Jessie Van Antwerp Huyck, established the Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve in honor of her husband. She intended about 500 acres of the property including “the Pond and its shores to be set aside for the enjoyment of the people forever.” Above all else, this natural resource is a refuge for nature - a place to be left unspoiled and undeveloped. The original charter of the Preserve states that its purpose is "to preserve the natural beauty of the Rensselaerville Falls, Lake Myosotis, Lincoln Pond and the land around them... and to increase the general knowledge and love of nature."Picture, left: Jessie Antwerp Huyck, c.1920

Research Station

The use of the Preserve for research began in 1937 after Cornell University mammalogist, W.J Hamilton, Jr., Ph.D., conducted an evaluation of the Preserve to determine its suitability as a site for scientific research. The Biological Research Station was then formally established at the Preserve in 1938. Today’s Senior Research Fellowship (known since under various names) began this same year when Jessie Van Antwerp Huyck paid the cost of supporting three biologists. One of those biologists, Eugene Odum, Ph.D. would go on to be considered the “father of ecosystem studies.” Donald Griffin, Ph.D. would discover that bats use echo-location to navigate, helping lead the military to the development of sonar. The third biologist, Edward Raney, Ph.D. would continue on to a full professorship at Cornell University and become one of the world’s leading ichthyologists.

Edward Raney, Ph.D

Eugene Odum, Ph.D

Donald Griffin, Ph.D

Growth through the years

In ensuing years, the Preserve would establish many other long-standing programs including swimming lessons (circa 1948), Nature Study (circa 1948), guided hikes lead by visiting scientists (Huyck Hikes, circa 1956), the annual Science Symposium (circa 1983), the artist-in-residence program, COM.EN.ART (circa 1996), and the Middle School Natural History Day Program (circa 2000).

In addition to building its education program, the Huyck Preserve has also expanded from its original 500 acres to the 2,000-acre Preserve with over 12 miles of trails that we see today.

Former board member and descendant of Edmund and Jessie Huyck, Laura Stephenson Carter is writing a book on the history of the Preserve. Her blog has many more articles on our history that she has teased from our archives. If you'd like to read more, be sure to check it out: ISCnews: All you ever wanted to know about research stations and more.

The Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to education, recreation, conservation, and research. For more information on how you can help to keep the Preserve unspoiled for future generations please visit our membership page. Membership Information